Pakistan Africa Monitoring Desk Islamabad
The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad celebrated Nigeria’s National Day on October 29, 2026 . Chief Guest was Mohammed Yusau, Charge d’ Affairs of Nigeria to Pakistan. The event was Co-Hosted by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President Pakistan-Africa Institute for Development & Research PAIDAR. Muhammad Imran, Head of Chancery, Pakistan’s Mission in Nigeria also took part virtually from Lagos.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Director General ISSI, in his introductory remarks, highlighted Nigeria’s economic potential, cultural heritage and regional leadership. He underscored the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Nigeria since 1961. He called for increased bilateral trade and faster progress on the bilateral trade treaty.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed recalled the historical ties between Pakistan and Nigeria, including the legacy of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
He also emphasised Africa’s growing global significance and the opportunities for Pakistan through trade, investment, education and research. He reaffirmed the importance of turning longstanding goodwill into practical cooperation between Pakistan and African countries.
CdA, Mohammed Yasau said, “The friendship between Nigeria and Pakistan is rooted in shared history, strengthened by mutual trust, and destined for a future of greater strategic cooperation.”
He called for Nigeria and Pakistan to move beyond their longstanding historical ties towards a more dynamic and forward-looking strategic partnership.
He emphasised the need to translate mutual trust and shared aspirations into tangible cooperation in defence and security, trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy and information technology, while strengthening coordination at multilateral forums.
He underscored that Nigeria and Pakistan have a shared responsibility to advance global peace, equitable development and a more representative international order while addressing at Nigeria’s National Day celebration held at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
Muhammad Imran, Head of Chancery, Pakistan’s Mission in Nigeria, stated that there is immense potential for enhanced cooperation in trade and investment, education and other key sectors. He emphasised the importance of strengthening business ties between the two countries.
Dr Amina Khan, Director CAMEA in her welcome remarks underscored CAMEA’s commitment to deepening Pakistan’s intellectual engagement with Africa and promoting greater understanding of the Continent. She also emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with African partners through dialogue and shared learning.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Board of Governors ISSI, describe Nigeria as the “Giant of Africa”, highlighting its energy, talent and ambition. He also commended CAMEA and the Nigeria Mission for organising the gathering and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
The national day celebration was jointly organised by CAMEA at ISSI and Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), bringing together diplomats, policymakers and researchers.
Pakistan-Nigeria Relations: A 60-Year Partnership Moving from Defence to Trade
Pakistan and Nigeria, two of the largest Muslim-populated nations, share a 64-year-old relationship that is today entering a new phase — from historic defence cooperation to economic partnership. Established in 1962, the ties have been anchored in mutual respect, sovereign equality, and common positions on terrorism, Islamophobia, climate change and multilateralism.
Nigeria, with a GDP of over $477 billion, is Africa’s largest economy, while Pakistan is Africa’s key Asian defence partner.
Defence: The Strongest PillarDefence diplomacy is the most visible pillar. Since the 1970s, over 2,000 Nigerian military officers have been trained in Pakistan in counterinsurgency, logistics, and technical maintenance — critical for Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Pakistan’s defence industry — Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex — has supplied small arms, ammunition and basic aircraft to Nigeria as Abuja diversifies beyond Western vendors.The momentum continues.
On 20 February 2026, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its strategic military partnership with Pakistan while receiving Pakistan’s Defence Adviser Col Kamran Mushtaq in Abuja. He highlighted joint training, intelligence sharing, defence technology and operational cooperation as critical pillars, and disclosed that Pakistani officers will now train at Nigeria’s National Defence College.
Trade: The Unfinished AgendaEconomics remains the weak link. Two-way trade was around $242 million in 2022-23, with Pakistan’s imports from Nigeria (mostly raw materials) at $210m against just $31m exports — showing huge unrealized potential.
That is changing under Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” policy. On 29 November 2025, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan met Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar in Abuja. Both sides directed technical teams to conclude the long-pending Nigeria-Pakistan Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in the shortest time, and agreed to simplify visa procedures for businesspeople, investors and tourists. Priority sectors identified: energy, agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT and halal certification.
